San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-03-05

sUiuon--nad been heard 10 declare that
Jack Dawkins certainly had a way o.
spinnin' a yarn as made ones finger
ends cold. an tn hair o. ones head
turn creepy likeln In short, before
noon OF the day succeeding Dicks i'm
mersion in the squire's lake, a belief in
the supernatural was spreading with
alarming rapidity throughout the
length and breadth of decorous Burn
ham, which boosted its chapel and its
Westinghouse, tn independent" fac
ton and tn "Methodies,n in addition
to the ivy-grown Established Church,
over the spiritual welfare Ofwhose con-
gregation Vicar Carlisle was privileged
to preside.
The reverend gentleman was justifia-
bly, irate, particularly when it trans
pired that not only did Dicks name
figure prominently in this ridiculous
local gossip, but rumor likewise whis-
pered that this most audacious Of all
known wraiths had actually ventured
within the sacred precincts of the vicar
age grounds-"th' young leddies they
selves havin' Omitted as much & Mary
Jane" the miller's daughter, home for
dinner on Christmas Day.
Upon investigation, report, in this in
stance, proved to have something very
like leg to stand upon, which is al
most more than can usually be adj
vanced in favor Of that very shaky indi-
vidual, Report in General. For veraci
ty compelled Edie to confess, under the
severe cross-examination of the able
counsel for the prosecution, the vicar
himself. that she had indeed lust
asked Mary Jane whether she or cook
had happened to see strange girl lurk
ing about the premises?" supplement-
ing the query by divers condolences
anent that white wan face peering in
at the window" which, it will be re-
membered, had been distinctly visible
to one and all Of the inmates of the par
lor late on Christmas Eve.
Now, the worthy and God-fearing
vicar was justly indignant and disgust
ed, not only with the villagers and his
own daughters. but to a far greater ex-
tent with Dick himself, whom, indeed,
he persisted in regarding as the chief
delinquent in an affair which threat
ened to prove of serious moment.
He wrote, therefore, suggesting that
Dick should forthwith adopt measures
to contradict and effectually counter
act the ridiculous belief coupled with
his name, which was hourly gaining
ground; and although the young man
could but laugh heartily at what ap-
peared to him storm in teacup on
his fathers part 1.-THE while, it must be
confessed, he was personally inclined
to enjoy the joke), yet Sir Jasper con-
CURED with him that, under existing
circumstances, it was hardly practical
BILE or expedient for the hero of these
recent sensational episodes to beat a
hasty and unprecedented retreat.
This conclusion had hardly been ar
rived at before the housekeeper claimed
an audience with the baronet in the
stewards room; the upshot of the con-
ference being that Sir Jasper himself
emerged with mingled expression of
annoyance and bewilderment ludicrous-
ly depicted on his face.
Your father was not wrong, Dick"
he began gloomily, land really hardly
know what can be done. 1t seems that
Charles has noticed, throughout the
morning, knots of villagers pausing,
from time to time, round the gates,
peering through the garden-railings and
altogether cycling the place askance,
whilst Mrs. Martin declares that the
expression Of the butchers boy, the
bakers lad, and even of the postman's
face, must be seen to be believed. At
length the mystery oozed out. We are
popularity supposed to be sheltering up
on the premises the person of the
Haunted Man. Bleak House is sudden
ly invested with the dignity of sort
of shrine, to which the dauntless jour
ney to see what is to be seen; of which
the timid will henceforth stand in
wholesome awe, and the credulous Of all
ages and every denomination allude to